By Stephen Lepore
The Red Storm have hired a former Blue Devil to run their athletic department.
St. John’s University announced the hiring of new Athletic Director Mike Cragg Tuesday. Cragg comes to Queens after a 30-year stint in the athletic department at Duke University, a tenure that finished with him serving as Deputy Director of Athletics/Operations. He replaces Anton Goff, who resigned in June, citing family reasons.
“We are excited to welcome Mike Cragg to St. John’s University,” St. John’s President Corrado Gempesaw said. “His vision for St. John’s athletics, coupled with his tremendous experience and commitment to excellence, will undoubtedly benefit our student-athletes, as we collectively work to ensure their success on and off the field of play.”
Cragg was thrilled for the opportunity to join St. John’s and has high expectations moving forward.
“From the first moment my wife and I stepped on campus, we felt at home and surrounded by great people with tremendous pride in their University,” Cragg said. “That passion is contagious and we were instantly hoping for this opportunity to be on President Gempesaw’s team. Without a doubt, I look forward to representing and humbly leading one of the iconic brands in all of college athletics — St. John’s.”
Cragg joined the Duke athletic department in 1987 and was a pivotal part of shaping the Blue Devils’ nationally-renowned men’s basketball program. He served as senior administration for that program from 2000 to 2018 and helped raise more than $100 million, creating the Duke Basketball Legacy Fund during his time in Durham.
One of Cragg’s major achievements at Duke outside of the basketball program was in leading the athletic department’s facilities operations. During his tenure, he oversaw more than $300 million in renovations and construction on campus, including the reconstruction of the Blue Devils’ football stadium.
Despite all his accomplishments at Duke, Cragg has his heart set on turning the St. John’s athletic programs into perennial winners.
“There’s a great history here and I want to be part of the imagining the championships in the future here,” Cragg said.
